Machine for making wire-glass.



N. PRAN ZEN. MACHINE FOR MAKING WIRE GLASS. APPLICATION nun r113. 18,1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES:

diyg D I v INVENTOFI N. FRANZEN.

MACHINE FOR MAKING WIRE GLASS.

APPLICATION FILE D IEB.18, 1908.

Patented Jan.4, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR NAUC 5 At a "11mm". 8. CRANAM CD. WMO-LIYMGIIAPNKI,Wl5NINOYOII. IL G the surface of the casting table.

' NITED.sTATEs rATENT OFFICE.

NICKLAS FRANZEN, 0F WALTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

MAOHIN E FOR MAKING WIRE-GLASS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NIOKLAS FRANZEN, residing at Walton, in the countyof Westmoreland and State of Pennsylvania, a citizen of the UnitedStates, have invented or discovered certain new and useful Improvementsin Machines for Making Wire-Glass, of which improvements the followingis a specification.

My invention relates to improvements 1n machines for making Wire glass.

The objects of my invention are economy and facility in producing wireglass by the so-called sandwich method.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification,Figure 1 is a plan view of a machine embodying my present invention, andFigs. 2 and 3 are views in longitudinal section of this machine,differing from one another in a certain detail, which will be describedherein.

The machine in its general features is substantially the same asdescribed in my application filed September 17th, 1908, Serial No.453,472. The specific feature which distinguishes this machine andcharacterizes my invention consists in the omission of the cross barswhich are shown and described in that earlier application, and in thesubstitution for them of another means for handling the wire while it isin course of being entrained with the glass.

The machine consists essentially of a casting table 1, and two rolls, 2and 3, arranged to spread superposed layers of glass upon To this endthe pair of rolls are relatively movable with respect to the castingtable, and as shown in the drawings the casting table has motion oftranslation beneath the rolls, which are rigidly mounted in suitablehousings. As in the other case the rolls are spaced one from the otherat such distance that the initial layer of glass is spread from end toend in its entirety before the second roll be ins to spread a secondbatch of glass upon the initial layer. As in the other case, means areemployed for sustaining the web of wire netting in extended horizontalposition above the path of movement of the casting table until thecasting table shall come to proper position beneath the web of wire,bearing upon its surface the initial layer of glass; the means shown areelectromagnets, 7 and 8, for I prefer to employ that particular type forholding and releasing means.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 18, 1909.

Patented Jan. 4, 1910.

Serial No. 478,601.

My present invention lies in employing a device to engage the rear endof the wire and by which the position of the wire upon the surface ofthe initial layer may be controlled ploy consists essentially of a reel11., mount-- ed to rotate in horizontal position above the surface ofthe casting table and preferably arranged adjacent to and forward of theinitial glass-spreading roll 2. This reel 11 is prov1ded with a web orwarp of pliable material which may be wound upon it, and unwound from itas reel 11 rotates, and to the free end of this web or warp the rear endof the web or wire may be secured. With such a construction, it will beunderstood that as the spreading of the second layer of glassprogresses, and as the wire web is gradually carried forward toward roll3, and buried in the glass, the wrap of pliable material upon the reelwill be unwound.

The reel and the wrap of pliable material upon it may vary in form andcharacter. For example, in Figs. 1 and 2, instead of a continuous web ofmaterial upon a continuous drum extending across the width of themachine, two lines are employed, wound upon separate spools, and theselines terminate in clamps 15 engaging the wire. Again, in Fig. 3, a webof pliable material wound on reel 11 is shown attached to the wire by asection of combustible material, 18, and in this case the wire will beautomatically released as the hot glass passes beyond its rear end, bythe burning away of section 18. This material upon reel 11 may ifdesired be merely a continuation of the web of wire itself.

In a general way the machine operates as described in my earlierapplication already referred to. The initial layer is spread complete asa layer of clear glass upon the table beneath roll 2. \Vhen spread, thewire is released and falls prone upon the surface of the initial layerfrom end to end. The second pour is then made and the sheet completed bythe spreading of the second batch of glass beneath roll 3. As theformation of the second layer progresses the wire is apt to rise inwaves from the surface of the initial layer and unless provision is madefor eliminating such waves and causing the wire to lie smooth, it isliable to become displaced 2 in the finished sheet. To overcome this thereel 11 with its wrap attached to the rear edge of the wire is employed.As the spreading of the second layer progresses, the reel 11 turning topermit the wire to feed forward, by placing a check upon the freeturning of reel 11 the wire may be drawn backward and waves in itremoved that it may lie smooth and pass smoothly beneath the advancingwave of hot glass. The free turning of the reel 11 to effect this endmay be accomplished in various ways. For example, in Fig. 1, the handwheel 13 affords suitable means. In Fig. 3 the reel is counterweighted,and this source of tension may be brought into play as the operationprogresses. If as shown in Fig. 3 the tension of the counterweight isexerted from the first the wire will be held in proximity to but with asmall clearance from the surface of the initial layer until it entersbeneath the batch of glass B. If the wire and wrap on reel 11 beconnected by combustible material, the wire will free itself, when thesheet is finished for the hot glass will burn away the combustibleconnection. If clamps are employed they are preferably so constructedthat a small increase in tension will draw the wire free; and in suchcase, the holding of the hand wheel at the end of the operation willrelease the wire.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a machine for making wire glass the combination of a pair of rollsseparated from one another at a distance as great as the length of thesheet of wire glass to be formed, a horizontally extending casting tablewith which said rolls cooperate to leasing said web of wire at thedesired point in the operation of the machine, and a tension deviceadapted to engage the rear end of the web of wire while a body of glassis being spread to layer form upon such web of wire, substantially asdescribed.

2. In a machine for making wire glass, the combination of a pair ofrolls separated from one another by a space as great as the length ofthe sheet of wire glass to be formed, a casting table with which saidrolls cooperate to spread superposed layers of glass, a reel arrangedbetween said rolls and provided with a flexible wrap, said flexible wrapadapted to engage a web of wire, substantially as described.

3. In a machine for making wire glass, the combination of a pair ofrolls separated from one another by a space as great as the length ofthe sheet of wire glass to be formed, a casting table with which saidrolls cooperate to spread superposed layers of glass, and a reelarranged between said rolls and provided with. a flexible wrap, saidreel provided with a hand wheel, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

NIGKLAS FRANZEN. IVitnesses:

CHARLES BARNETT, FRANCIS J. TOMASSON.

above the plane of said table, and for re-

